Securing device for vehicle-curtains, awnings, &amp;c.



v 1,. c CRAMP. SECURING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE CURTA'INS, AWNINGSJLC.

APPLICATION FILED nov .'24, e919.

' Patented Mar. 30 1920,

. buttons.

7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH C. CHAMP, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 WALTER, SCHOCH.

SECURING DEVICE ron VEHICLE-CURTAINS, awnmes, &c.'

Specification of Letters Iatent. Patented Mar. 30, 1920- Application filed November 24. 1919. SerialNo. 340,347.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrrr C. CRAMP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Securing Devices for Vehicle-Curtains, Awnings, &c., of which the following is a specification.

While my invention broadly relates to the general class of devices which have for their purpose the securing together of independent articles of various descriptions, it yet more specifically relates to that particular branch of said class which comprises devices-that are constructed for the sole purpose of securing articles of a flexible nature, as for instance, the curtains of automobiles or other vehicles, theflaps of tents, awnings or analogous articles, either together or-to supports that are especially designed to re ceive and support the same, and such invention-has for its purpose the provision of a simple, durable and easily operated device of the character noted, which may be connected either directly to one of the articles that are to be fastened together, or to a rigid support by which the articles are to be supported and carried.

The invention further has for its object the provision of a. device which may be employed, for the attainment of the ends set forth, in connection with vehicle curtains, tent flaps, awnings, etc., that are provided with gromets such as are at present in use in connection with studs provided with turn To theaccomplishment of the ends. above noted, my invention consists in the construction,: arrangement and combination of the several parts comprised. therein for service substantially as is hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure'l. illustrates, in side elevation, my improved securing device for vehicle curtains, awnings, etc., as it appears when in operative connection with the supports of such curtains, awnings, etc., and holding the movable portions of such curtains, awnings, etc.,thereagainst.

Fig. 2.. is a front elevation of the device illustrated in Fig. 1, the movable portions of the curtains, etc., shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3, illustrates in an edge elevation the invention set forth in Figs. 1- and 2.

Fig. 4, is a sectional elevation taken on the line 02, 0c, of Fig. 8, to show the peculiar means employed to hold the fixed. and movable portions of the curtains, awnings, etc.,

together.

' Fig. 5, is a side elevation of my invention as it appears when the movable portion of a curtain, awning, etc., is being placed thereon.

Fig. 6, is a detail sectional view of the device to illustrate the position assumed by the securing spring within said device, when the movable portion of the curtain, awning, etc., is being placed thereon, as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7, illustrates a portion of a removable curtain, awning, etc., provided with a gromet similar to those at the present time in use, for employment in connection with my improved securing device. Fig. 8, illustrates a detail sectional view of my improved securing device, taken 011 the line 00, 00, of Fig. 3, the securing spring within such device being removed therefrom for the purpose of showing the recess within which such spring is placed and acts.

Fig. 9, illustrates in elevation a modified form of securing spring, for use in connection with my invention.

Fig. 10, is 'a'bottom plan view ofmy invention' to show the opening formed through the base thereof, and which opens to the interior of said device for the insertion of the spring therein.

Fig. 11, illustrates in a bottom plan view, means I employ for the purpose of securing the device directly to vehicle curtains, awnings, etc.

Fig. 12, illustrates the device shown in :Fig. 11, secured directly to a curtain, awning, etc., the outline of such device show ing indotted lines in the figure.

Fig. 13, is a top plan view of a modification of the securing means employedfor fasteningthe device directly to a flexible material, as vehicle curtains, awnings, etc. Fig. 14, is a sectional elevation of the device set forth in Fig. 13, to show the manner in which the device illustrated in said Fig. 13, is applied to practice.

Fig. 15, is a sectional view taken on the line 0, 0, of Fig. 8, looking downward to show the hollow interior of the standard employed in my invention.

Heretofore for the purpose of securing removable portions of vehicle curtains. awnings, etc., eitherto the supports by which they are carried, or to each other, it has been customary to employ devices which consist essentially in a stud or studs of various description, which'are secured to the supports which carry such curtains, awnings, etc, and are at their outer ends provided, each with a turn button of some description, whichwhen a gron'iet secured to a removable part of such curtains, awnings, etc., has been placed in position'upon such stud, or studs,-is turned to prevent the disengagement of such movable portions from their desired position.

In practice however, the devices above noted are often. found to have become partially or wholly inoperative through various causes, and all thereof are to a great extent open to objections sometimes for the reason that the buttons so pivoted upon the studs are,through movement of the curtains, awnings, etc., due to jars,so easilyv turned upon said studs to allow the curtains or awnings to be shaken therefrom, and sometimes for the reason that such buttons have becomeso rusted upon their bearings, that they are hard to be turned and often cannot be .turned. at all either for the purpose of using the studs upon which such buttons are pivoted, for the reception of a gromet in a curtain, awning, etc, or for the removal of such curtain or awning.

In view of the foregoing named objectionable features of the ordinary securingdevices and for the purpose of providing a simple, durable and efficient device which,

shall be adapted to coact at all times and in a perfect manner not only with such vehicle curtains, awnings, etc, as are provided with gromets designed for use in connection with my improved securing device, but also with gromets which 'arenow in use in connection with the articles named, the present invention has been made.

Referring to'the drawings, wherein similar letters and numerals of reference denote similar parts, 1, designates a rectangular shaped stud or standard which, formed of any desired material suitable for such pur pose as for instance, iron, bronze, brass,.etc., is provided with a base 2, provided with apertures '3, for the reception of screws 4, which'exten'd through the base to and into the frame or supports 5, which carry the curtains, awnings, etc.

I preferably provide-that'the standard 1,

shall have a rounded upper end that it may readily enter the central aperture formed through gro'mets 6, .with which the movable portions of vehicle curtains, awnings, etc., are provided. I also provide that the outer surface of the standard 1, shall, to a certain extent, be elliptical in cross section that it may more readily conform. to the oval shaped aperture formed through the gromet 6, as shown.

I further provide that the standard 1, shall, with the sole exception of a short space 7, at its upper end, be hollow-through out its extent, and such hollow portion shall open throughits front and rear edges'and base, see Figs. 8, 9 and 15, for the reception of-a spring 8, which, formed of a single piece of wire,made of'any desired suitable material as for instance steel, brass,.bronze, etc.-, is bent into an approximately M shaped outline to form loops 9 and 10, which are each provided with an outwardly projecting portion 1.1 and 12, that exten'direspectively' 7 into recess 13 and 1 1, surface of the base 2.

The loops 9 and 10, respectively project outwardly through the openings at the front and rear edges of the standard 1, see Fig. 4, to bear upon and hold a gromet 6, placed upon the standard 1, from displacement therefrom, see Fig. 1, except by design.

It is to be understood that the central looped shaped portion 15, which together with the loop shaped portions 9 and 10, constitutes the spring 8, operates, by increasing the resiliency of said spring 8," not only to permit the more ready adjustment of' a gromet upon the standard 1, below the'loops 9 and 10, but also to cause said loops 9 and 10, to exert'a more steady'pressure upon the gromet to hold it in position uponsaid standard, aswell. as topermit the ready removal of such gromet through a quick jerk, from said standard.

In Fig.9, Iillustratea modified-formof spring which, in certain circumstances may be employed in lieu of the spring 8, and which is, in common with the spring 8,

formed in the lower formed of a single piece of wire bent'into' ing portions 16, purposely pointed that they be forced into and through the material to which the stud or standard 1, is to bev connected, after which they are bent downward upon the material to hold said stud or standard in proper position thereon, as shown in Fig. 12, which see.

Figs. 13 and l l, show respectively a plan view, and a sectional View, of a modification of the means shown in Fig. 11, for securing the standard 1, as constructedfor connection with the supports 5, to a vehicle curtain, and awning, or other article made of a flexible material. instead of to a support 5, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6.

In the modification noted I form from a thin plate of suitable material a securing device 17, which provided with an oval aperture 18, to closely fit the sides of the standard 1, is provided atits sideedges with pointed projections 19, similar to those upon the base illustrated in Fig. 11, for a similar purpose. I provide that the blank thus formed, shall be bent downward and that the flanges thus formed shall closely fit against the sides of the base 2, of a standard 1, when the latter named is in position upon an article formed of flexible material, as indicated in Fig. let, in which figure the points 19, are shown as hearing against the lower surface of the material to hold the standard in place thereon. It will be understood that the side edges of the blank 17, are

turned downward. upon the lines m, m, and I n, n, for the purpose above set forth.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I 1. A securing device for vehicle curtains awnings and analogous articles which comprises a hollow standard, means for securing said standard to a suitable support or to a section of flexible material. forming a part of such curtains awnings or analogous artides, and a spring consisting of a single piece of suitable material placed within such hollow standard to hear at its middle upon the material to which the standard is secured and to project near its opposite ends outwardly from the front and rear edges respectively of said standard to hold a gromet and. the material with which such gromet is connected in place upon the standard, substantially as described.

2. A securing device for vehicle curtainsv awnings and analogous articles which'comprises a hollow standard, a base thereon having apertures for the passage of screws therethrough to and into a suitable support, and a spring consisting of a single piece of suitable material bent approximately into M shaped form placed within.

the hollow standard and having near its op posite ends loops which project respectively from the front and rear edges'of said standard to hold a gromet and the material with which such gromet is connected in place upon the standard substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature;

' JOSEPH C. CRAMP. 

